Wednesday, July 05, 2017

PASTORAL GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Dated 30 January 2017, the CBCP issued its well-thought of and quite relevant document – as above cited -
- specifically on the use of Facebook, TwitterandInstagram.It is good to take note of the fact that
the said document is issued as “Guidelines”
and that it is “Pastoral” in intent
and content. In other words, it is
primarily intended and released as some kind of an accompaniment, an attendant,
a lead in doing or not doing something – hence “Guidelines”. It is furthermore
“Pastoral” in intent, viz., presented
and submitted in order that those concerned will hopefully know and learn the
right and proper way of attending to , understanding and handling something –
such as precisely the use of Social Media
which can be considered as something somehow novel and interesting particularly
during these times of science-driven social communication media.

It is quite interesting to take note that the said “Pastoral Guidelines” presented
precisely no less than fifteen (15) concrete “Pastoral Guidelines” specifically in conjunction with the use of “Social Media” which is subject to good or
devious intention, open to proper or abusive finality. Briefly said, the guidelines are the
following:

10. In case of
legitimate Facebook questions, answer in all candor and truth.

11. Study how to make
use of the messenger section of Facebook.

12. Make use of the
said section for the promotion of truth.

13. Use of photo messages
are effective in stating what is right or wrong.

14. Keep your posts
concise with photo accompaniments if possible.

15. Read up on online
lingo to be duly updated on this matter.

It is both inspiring and encouraging when no less than the
good and great Pope Francis gave his own Message on the occasion of the “50th World Communications Day”
for the year 2016 – a short portion of which reads:

“E-mails, text
messages, social networks and chats can also be fully human forms of communication. It is not technology which determines whether
or not communication is authentic, but rather the human heart and our capacity
to use wisely the means at our disposal.”

We the people are the ones who make social media useful or
harmful, who use it to disseminate truth or falsehood, who make it a blessing
or a curse.

Oscar Cruz

About The Blogger

Most Reverend Oscar V. Cruz, D.D. is the Archbishop-Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan. He is currently the Judicial Vicar of the National Tribunal of Appeals. He is a prolific writer, having published several dozen books mostly on judicial and moral matters. His most recent book is about the Social Doctrines of the Church. He also has a blog where he posts regularly. He is an avid coin collector and dabbles in woodworking art.